Talen is seated by the campfire, having a quick pick-me-up glass of wine while the few people gather before the event. He's seated with a plushie in his lap, and a book on the table before him, as if it's somewhat important and needs to be kept close. It really isn't.

Caspian walks through the grounds towards the site of the auction, letting out a long yawn as he stretches for the sky, having woke up early (for a duelist) to attend this auction. He looks around a moment, giving a little grin as he spies the unicorn. "I don't really the unicorn from the tournament, unless there was one before I missed."

Felicia's among those gathering for the auction, the redheaded Harrow in her off-duty black leaving her warhorse a decent distance from the gathering before she makes her way over to the gathering at an unhurried prowl.

Relic arrives, following Harlan.

"If I'm honest with everyone here, I remember only a small patch of the night, but I remember the unicorn the most," Talen says as he rises, setting down his sipped glass of wine. Caspian's given a nod, a few to nameless others, and a less nameless Felicia. Eleyna's appearance and that of Josephine cause him to shake the stuffed toy idly and says, "I need to get rid of it, it's part of my shame. It might as well go to a good cause. I'll wait five minutes to begin, but in the mean time, there's wine, whisky and some sort of other swill somewhere." Velenosan aides are on hand to point people thataway.

Golden, an Oakhaven bloodhound, Gunther, a Rottweiler, Micana, 1 Saik Guard arrive, following Lucita.

Eleyna arrives without much fanfare, but, well, seems entirely uncertain about being out in 'nature' portion. Gardens are great. Forest is a -little- scary. Still, she's here and supporting Nelat's adoption!

"Now that I think about it, I don't remember it very well ether," Caspian says, shrugging his shoulders to Talen as he heads over to the refreshments to grab some wine. "Why is it part of your shame? What's the story behind it?" He wonders as he twirls the red liquid around in it's glass before giving it a long sip.

3 Tyde Houseguard arrives, following Lethe.

Harlan looks quite relaxed out in the forest, looking around and cocks his head, "I'm willing to donate to the Lodge...but a stuffed thing?" He sounds rather unsure about it.

nature and Josephine get along so when beige lords are doing auctions, Josephine is there. Easing along the path with her daughter with her and talking quietly. Likely, maybe discussing what new design to put up in her shop.

"They were all the rage for a while, my lord." Felicia offers Harlan's direction wryly, hooking her thumbs in her belt as she finds a spot to stand,"And besides, if you decide you don't want to keep it, you could keep the tradition going and auction it off to someone else, right?"

Harlan shrugs uqietly and says, "Perhaps. I....think I am glad I missed the rage, though." He smiles faintly

Talen pats down his front, pulling out a pouch and idly begins packing a bowl of Dust as if he's back at home. "A stuffed thing," Talen confirms for the unfamiliar voice, of Harlan's, before looking in that direction. "A toy," he adds. "It's not a real unicorn," he explains, as if someone had mistaken it for one before. To Caspian, "I rode it, I think. While swinging at people with my sword," he explains, as if this is the most normal thing ever. "So," he rumbles while lighting his Dust and taking a draw, before exhaling to get it started. "It's arguably a valiant steed, considering I came second place to Sir Jordan Ober." Once he tosses the stuffed thing into the direction of Harlan for inspection, he leans back against a fence and clicks his fingers at Jiacomo to retrieve the book. "You all have to listen to me read the first passage of the book," he explains, "which comes with it, too. I am told it's mandatory for my charity auction."

Lucita strolls into the areaalong with Micana and a guard, and her two guard dogs that move happily into the area as if expecting a romp only to stop short, coming to attention and flanking Lucita as a gathering of people are seen. She reaches down to rest a hand on the head of each, patting reassuringly and moving with them to take a spot to the side, nodding amicably and giving warm smiles to the others present. A curtsy is made toward Eleyna and Talen when she spots them.

Harlan catches the stuffed unicorn before eying that, then Telan, "I'm sure I will have to get the story from Sir Jordan as well." He sounds ... doubtful, but isn't saying anything else.

The Archduchess eyes Harlan and lifts a brow, murmuring, "I was there as a witness. He did ride the 'unicorn' into battle and managed to best everyone but Sir Jordan." She stares at Harlan for a moment longer and then looks away. Upon spotting Lucita, she gives her a little wave and a smile before shifting to look at Talen.

"Yes, you do have to read it, I saw the itinerary for the auction, it was in there in big letters," Caspian says back to Talen with a nod. Was there even an itinerary? Probably not, but Caspian is at least going to say there was!

"Feel free," Talen insists, before licking a finger, opening to the first page of the book. To those gathered, he reads, and it's done before anyone really has to get so bored they have to leave. The voice he uses is quite monotonous, like most of his speech, but there is a tone of soft bass to his speech. "The auction is really only aiming to provide a way for the Lodge of Petrichor to earn a little silver towards the obscene costs of combating an enemy of the Compact. This very place we stand will come under attack, and creatures of the dark that few believe, as few who believe in the unicorns who dwell in the pastures over there at times," he points, "will come for it and the entities that occupy this place." Exhaling an toxic breath of fumes, he then clasps his hands around the spine and panels of the book, shaking it mildly. "House Velenosa will match any bid made for the two items, simply to pass it to them, and in turn the Inquisition so that they can power the rituals to defeat them."

Talen says, "Exactly, the itinerary. What's an itinerary?"

Lethe looks around with curiosity. She lifts her hand in a wave to Harlan and Lucita. She smiles as she listens to Talen.

Harlan holds up a hand and says, "I'm not disputing. You must admit though, it sounds rather .... nonsensical, after all." He smiles, and prepares to return the stuffed animal back towards Talen.

Harlan also nods with a smile towards his cousin, Lethe.

Lucita gives Lethe a warm smile and waves toward her but moves to stand near Eleyna for a moment. murmuring softly to her.

"It's another word for a schedule," Says Caspian with a shrug. He looks over to Harlan, asking, "What, threats to The Lodge? Or him ridding a stuffed animal in a tournament? Because both are true, and I can see him doing the later, especially after his second bottle of wine."

Josephibe offers a curtsey to Eleyna and Talen, then one smaller to the other gatheted nobles. "A mighty steed. pehaps worthy of honour like this claw of Arx I have heard of?" But talks of rutuals and dark enemies only get raiaed brows and exchanged looks with her daughter as she settles down.

Harlan say simply, "The second. The first, I am quite aware of."

"I don't blame you," Talen says in contrast to Eleyna, "but in truth, whatever the origins of the plush toy," Talen says while spying it, "let us hope that nothing comes to this place. There are spirits that dwell here, there are assets to guard, and the Crown, through its King's Own, Iron Guard and Inquisition strives to see it protected. Allies all over, like the Mirrorguard will be here to defend it. If you don't care for a toy, consider pledging money or resources towards the Inquisiton and their knowledge to defeat the Gargantuans-- creatures not unlike the fomorions we fought during the Silence War." Then, he lifts a finger, and utters, "But enough of all that. Let me not take up too much of your valuable time. I am going to start the bidding at a measely 1 silver, and let you all decide how much you care to help the Compact. Simply shout it out as you please."

"Three thousand silver." Felicia chimes in without hesitation, the off-duty member of the King's Own apparently content to kick off the bidding.

"Four thousand silver," Caspian shoots off next, raising his hand.

As the bidding begins, Eleyna links her arm with Lucita's and leans in to exchange murmurs with her, a little frown on the Archduchess' face.

'Ten" This from the old woman who sits rolling her eyes so hard at the tall tales being spun. Josephine shaking her head in disbelief.

Caspian looks over to the old woman as she bids then, and then Caspian turns back to Talen, sounding out, "Twelve thousand."

"I see twelve thousand silver for a fat little unicorn," Talen says, with a nod to Caspian, and eyes Eleyna supiciously. Then, to Harlan, he queries, "Prepared to pay a ridiculous amount of silver for something you don't care about on behalf of the Compact?"

Talen is the best salesman.

Felicia just smiles wryly to herself, arms folding before her but doesn't elect to chime in again right away in favor of letting others continue the bidding war.

Harlan calls out, "Fifteen thousand."

Harlan then smiles towards Talen, "For the Compact, absolutely."

"The only cause we can all agree on, I'm sure," insists Talen, with a short exhaust of breath, nodding in respect for Harlan. "15,000 silver. Any one else? Going once..." and then a dutiful amount of pause.

"you would outbid an old woman?" Josephine calls over to Harlan. "Twenty"

"Twenty five thousand," Caspian shoots off, folding his arms across his chest as he looks to the plushie. "It's adorable and I want it."

Harlan raises an eyebrow and says, "I'd outbid anyone. Why wouldn't I?" He smiles towards Caspian and says, "I apologize, but no. Twenty-six."

"I see 25,000 to the duelist over there, Grandamster of the Champions Guild, no less. You should ride it into battle, trust me," insists Talen. Then, "26,000!"

"Twenty and eight then" The jeweler puts forth. "For the fat unicorn."

Caspian pauses, and adds, "Disipite it's previous proximity to Prince Talen's crotch. Thirty thousand."

Talen says, "The Archduchess is known to enjoy such proximity, so you have good taste, clearly."

Eleyna just -looks- at Talen. No words. Just that look.

Talen says, "It's for charity. What."

Talen says, "30,000 held by the Guildmaster, going once..."

Lucita murmurs to Eleyna "I plan to donate some resources to the effort later." She keeps her voice low pitched so not to interrupt the auction.

"Oh now you." Josephine wags a finger at Caspian with a smile on her face. "Thrity five"

Harlan chuckles and shakes his head, "Thirty-three thousand, three hundred and thirty three." Why not?

Harlan eyes JOsephine as she speaks rihght before he does, and shrugs, "Forty four thousand, four hundred and forty-four, then!" Why not, indeed!

"How badly do you want it your excellency?" The old woman inquires.

"44,044!" Talen updates in a tone of voice that indicates approval, "to Duke Ashford, sworn to House Grayson." Josephine is given a shake of his head, as if to say, 'just missed it!'. "For some felt and goat skin." Then he adds, "How badly do you want to see -real- unicorns -not die-." Better salesman.

Caspian lets out a snicker at Talen and Eleyna, shaking his head, "No, I plan to wash it later." He looks over to Josephine, biting at his lip, blowing out a breath. And then Harlan comes in with an even higher price, and he brings his hand to his face, thinking it over. "Fourty five thousand."

Talen says, "44,444, I am told, is the correct number. Math is hard, I am used to counting in stabs, and those only go up to a couple hundred if someone took your drugs."

Talen says, "45,000!"

Harlan shrugs towards Josephine and smiles, "It? Not all that much. Maybe. I haven't decided. Donating to the Compact is a worthy deed, though, I believe." A pause, "Fifty thousand."

Talen checked intellect + etiquette at difficulty 15, rolling 15 higher.

'Sixty then." Looking to Talen after a brief smile to Caspian from Josephine.

Talen says, "50,000 to Duke Ashford once again. For the Compact. Ever Rising! Now 60,000! Will House Ashford hold true to their words of their House?"

Felicia chuckles quietly, but is so definitely not bidding at this point so much as watching the others bid with reserved amusement.

Talen says, "Dame Harrow, I'll read you the story out of sympathy, since you lost out. Do you want that? You don't have to want that. Don't say no though, you'll hurt my ego."

"Okay, you two beat me, I need to buy some armor for the upcoming battles," Says Caspian with a shrug given to the two, smiling their way. "Nobles and their coin purses. Can't beat 'em."

Harlan lifts a hand and smiles towards Josephine, "Apparently, you truly do desire the fluffy thing. I will not pass you on this, I fear." He inclines his head towards Josephine as if to say 'Well-played!'

Talen says, "60,000 going once to Mistress Josephine Arcuri..."

Talen says, "Going twice..."

"Only if it comes with appropriate gestures." Felicia offers solemnly,"It's for a good cause, though, so... even if I lose, the Compact still wins."

"I've a granddaughter or two who will squabble over this thing, and perhaps ride it. They idolize her Grace's husband." But Haraln's deferring and she bows her head to him.

Talen says, "Sold! Mistress Josephine Arcuri takes Nelat home with her, the book, and our signatures. Please don't forge them and sign checks to House Velenosa because we're paying for about a thousand princesses and their aeterna habits. It's notoriously more expensive than any Dust I'll ever buy. Congratulations! Thank you to all who bid, and thank you for not letting real unicorns die, for I still hope one day to ride one into someone's gut with the horn."

"Done deal," Talen insists to Felicia, as if she's signed a Writ, a blood promise. He'll probably find her at the most inconvenient time, and she'll regret this.

Lethe grins as she looks toward Josephine. "Yay! That was exciting to watch." She looks to Harlan. "You gave it a good try."

Talen says, "Now, enjoy the wine, pet the unicorn-- if Mistress Arcuri's daughters let you-- and relish in the proximity to such a place lest it be destroyed by giant evil creatures built by Abyssal magic."

Talen says, "Thank you all for coming! Thank you to Duke Ashford, Dame Harrow, and Master Wild as well for your bids."

Harlan chuckles towards Josephine and nods towards Lethe, "It was for a good cause." He pauses, then says, "We will fight to keep it from being destroyed, of course."

"Not if we can help it." Felicia remarks with regards to the potential for destruction,"And well, if you want to make a thing of it, your highness, I'm certain that the barracks would love a good bedtime story." she grins briefly.

Demetria is the one striding forward with a bag, filtering through it to bring out a handful of smaller ones and eventually passing it over to whomever Talen is having handle money. Lethe earns a smile. Talens latter words, unfettered skepticism before she's gesturing to the unicorn. "Please, anyone may pet it. Before we take it away"

Talen steps away from fence after his auction is over, seating himself by the bonfire, and resuming his Dust and wine with a casual interest. He doesn't, it seems, seem ready to leave. When Felicia indicates the story time for the King's Own, he considers it. "I'll be by," he decides, ultimately. "When you least expect it." That almost sounds like a threat, for bed time stories.